Love is a wonderful thing. It is an emotion that rouses happiness, unity, empathy and generates positive energy.

It is, therefore, shocking that lovers end up killing their partners. Equally shocking is the fact that the recent spate of murders involves students, some in their teens.

Miriam Chirchir, 22, was planning for her future as a student at the Kenya Medical Training College when an enraged boyfriend stabbed her after a squabble. The boyfriend, also a student, surrendered to police. 

Naomi Nyarangi, 17, had her life snuffed out by a lover old enough to be her father. The man later committed suicide. 

Cynthia Makokha, 17, went missing only for her body to be discovered in a river.

The Four student is said to have visited her lover who turned out to be a killer. She was defiled and then strangled. The list goes on and on.

The reasons given are similar in almost all the cases. A partner felt the other was cheating, got into a fit of rage and ended up killing. 

If the killer had taken a minute to think through what they were about to do, lives would have been saved.

The moment of madness has ruined lives of those left behind. Perpetrators have also had their lives ruined after being sent to prison for crimes they could have avoided.

Life is too precious to be ended like that. There are myriad pressures in life but killing or committing suicide is not a solution.

Mental health is an aspect that many people overlook but the repercussions are dire. Stress, depression and anxiety can push people to the brink. 

However, support systems in society exist and have been able to pull many sufferers from the abyss.

It, however, takes courage to confront the issues that are turning men and women into butchers. 

It is the responsibility of everyone to look out for telltale signs. The most obvious sign is a change in behaviour.

If routines are dropped or patterns changed with no good reason, that person could be handling more than they are capable of and may need help. 

Arresting situations before they get out of hand is the solution to the rampant crimes. Walking away from a situation has saved lives. Let’s love genuinely.